LaChapelle
11-25-2010, 10:27 PM
Carl Peterson’s fingerprints are all over the current Chiefs squad
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
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ST. LOUIS | Carl Peterson sat in the press box at the Edwards Jones Dome with one eye on the field below and another focused on the FanVision mobile device in his right hand.
He clicked buttons that provided live video from ground level, high level and the end zones, plus replays, stats and even fantasy-football information from up to three NFL games at a time. Of all the games available to him, guess which one was beaming from the 4.3-inch screen at Peterson’s fingertips Sunday?
Chiefs vs. Cardinals from Arrowhead Stadium.
“I’ll always have a soft spot for Kansas City. … It was a big part of my life,” said Peterson, 66, who appeared as fit and relaxed and at ease as he ever was during his 20-year tenure as the Chiefs’ chief executive officer, president and general manager.
Although Peterson doesn’t instantly check the Chiefs’ box scores in the paper on Monday mornings, he takes some pride in watching the club’s resurgence to first place in the AFC West, especially because his administration formed the team’s nucleus in the last four drafts before Peterson’s departure after the 2008 season.
Those drafts netted linebacker Derrick Johnson and punter Dustin Colquitt (2005); outside linebacker Tamba Hali (2006); wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (2007); and defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, offensive tackles Branden Albert and Barry Richardson, running back Jamaal Charles and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr (2008).
“I’m always happy for our players who do well,” Peterson said. “You start scouting these guys when they’re freshmen, sophomores in college, and you like to see how they mature and grow up and hopefully become the player you thought they would when they were drafted.
“I didn’t draft them. Somebody had to take the credit or the blame. I was the last word, and that was part of my deal with Lamar, but guys like … (personnel directors) Bill Kuharich and Lynn Stiles and all of our scouts … Chuck Cook and Lamonte Winston put so much time and effort into it.”
Some of those players struggled when the Chiefs embarked on a youth movement in 2007 and 2008. That led to 4-12 and 2-14 seasons, Peterson’s departure, the dismissal of coach Herm Edwards and the hiring of general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley.
“We went from basically the oldest NFL team to the youngest,” Peterson said. “We knew we were going to take some lumps, and we did for two years. I’m not surprised these guys are playing well, because they played well in college.
“They’re still playing against the same guys, but in different uniforms. It’s a combination of good talent, good coaching, maturity and figuring out how to win. … I want them to do well, but I have 12 clients I want to do well, too.”
The Chiefs are not among the 12 franchises marketing FanVision to their fans. The Chiefs “didn’t show any interest,” said Peterson, whose clients also include three BCS games, the universities of Michigan and Miami and the PGA Tour.
Because Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross is a close friend and partner in FanVision, some have connected the dots and speculated that Peterson may return to the NFL with the Dolphins as a replacement for Bill Parcells. Peterson may be interested in a role as a club president some day, but not as a general manager.
“I miss game day,” Peterson said wistfully. “I always miss game day. I miss the competition. I don’t miss the phone calls late at night … a player has a problem. I don’t miss the calls from the agents because their player had a good game and wants to renegotiate a contract we just did last year. I made a lot of great relationships. Every time I go to a game, it’s like old home week.”
In fact, in St. Louis last Sunday, Peterson reconnected with Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who cut his teeth in the Chiefs’ scouting department; Rams quarterbacks coach Dick Curl, a former Chiefs assistant; and Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick in 1997 and all-time leading receiver in franchise history, who is in his second season with Atlanta.
“This is the third time I’ve got to see Tony play this year, just because of the way the schedule fell in going around to our 12 NFL clients,” Peterson said.
For all the fingerprints Peterson has left on the Chiefs’ franchise, and despite the sweat equity he put into the $375 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, he has yet to venture into the refurbished arena.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about it,” said Peterson, who now lives in New York City, where FanVision is based. He still maintains his home in Kansas City, where his wife, Lori, works with the sports architectural firm Populous — the company that designed the new Arrowhead.
So while he’s in Kansas City for Thanksgiving weekend, Peterson is considering getting a firsthand look at Arrowhead on Saturday by attending the Missouri-Kansas game, a venture in whose origins Peterson played a huge role.
“That was something we really worked hard to make happen, because Lamar (Hunt) wanted it,” Peterson said. “We all did. It was really a good thing for Kansas City and for the two schools.”
To reach Randy Covitz, call 816-234-4796 or send e-mail to rcovitz@kcstar.com (rcovitz@kcstar.com)
Posted on Wed, Nov. 24, 2010 10:15 PM
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/24/2470266/carl-petersons-fingerprints-all.html#ixzz16MJxmQoD
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
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ST. LOUIS | Carl Peterson sat in the press box at the Edwards Jones Dome with one eye on the field below and another focused on the FanVision mobile device in his right hand.
He clicked buttons that provided live video from ground level, high level and the end zones, plus replays, stats and even fantasy-football information from up to three NFL games at a time. Of all the games available to him, guess which one was beaming from the 4.3-inch screen at Peterson’s fingertips Sunday?
Chiefs vs. Cardinals from Arrowhead Stadium.
“I’ll always have a soft spot for Kansas City. … It was a big part of my life,” said Peterson, 66, who appeared as fit and relaxed and at ease as he ever was during his 20-year tenure as the Chiefs’ chief executive officer, president and general manager.
Although Peterson doesn’t instantly check the Chiefs’ box scores in the paper on Monday mornings, he takes some pride in watching the club’s resurgence to first place in the AFC West, especially because his administration formed the team’s nucleus in the last four drafts before Peterson’s departure after the 2008 season.
Those drafts netted linebacker Derrick Johnson and punter Dustin Colquitt (2005); outside linebacker Tamba Hali (2006); wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (2007); and defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, offensive tackles Branden Albert and Barry Richardson, running back Jamaal Charles and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr (2008).
“I’m always happy for our players who do well,” Peterson said. “You start scouting these guys when they’re freshmen, sophomores in college, and you like to see how they mature and grow up and hopefully become the player you thought they would when they were drafted.
“I didn’t draft them. Somebody had to take the credit or the blame. I was the last word, and that was part of my deal with Lamar, but guys like … (personnel directors) Bill Kuharich and Lynn Stiles and all of our scouts … Chuck Cook and Lamonte Winston put so much time and effort into it.”
Some of those players struggled when the Chiefs embarked on a youth movement in 2007 and 2008. That led to 4-12 and 2-14 seasons, Peterson’s departure, the dismissal of coach Herm Edwards and the hiring of general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley.
“We went from basically the oldest NFL team to the youngest,” Peterson said. “We knew we were going to take some lumps, and we did for two years. I’m not surprised these guys are playing well, because they played well in college.
“They’re still playing against the same guys, but in different uniforms. It’s a combination of good talent, good coaching, maturity and figuring out how to win. … I want them to do well, but I have 12 clients I want to do well, too.”
The Chiefs are not among the 12 franchises marketing FanVision to their fans. The Chiefs “didn’t show any interest,” said Peterson, whose clients also include three BCS games, the universities of Michigan and Miami and the PGA Tour.
Because Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross is a close friend and partner in FanVision, some have connected the dots and speculated that Peterson may return to the NFL with the Dolphins as a replacement for Bill Parcells. Peterson may be interested in a role as a club president some day, but not as a general manager.
“I miss game day,” Peterson said wistfully. “I always miss game day. I miss the competition. I don’t miss the phone calls late at night … a player has a problem. I don’t miss the calls from the agents because their player had a good game and wants to renegotiate a contract we just did last year. I made a lot of great relationships. Every time I go to a game, it’s like old home week.”
In fact, in St. Louis last Sunday, Peterson reconnected with Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who cut his teeth in the Chiefs’ scouting department; Rams quarterbacks coach Dick Curl, a former Chiefs assistant; and Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick in 1997 and all-time leading receiver in franchise history, who is in his second season with Atlanta.
“This is the third time I’ve got to see Tony play this year, just because of the way the schedule fell in going around to our 12 NFL clients,” Peterson said.
For all the fingerprints Peterson has left on the Chiefs’ franchise, and despite the sweat equity he put into the $375 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, he has yet to venture into the refurbished arena.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about it,” said Peterson, who now lives in New York City, where FanVision is based. He still maintains his home in Kansas City, where his wife, Lori, works with the sports architectural firm Populous — the company that designed the new Arrowhead.
So while he’s in Kansas City for Thanksgiving weekend, Peterson is considering getting a firsthand look at Arrowhead on Saturday by attending the Missouri-Kansas game, a venture in whose origins Peterson played a huge role.
“That was something we really worked hard to make happen, because Lamar (Hunt) wanted it,” Peterson said. “We all did. It was really a good thing for Kansas City and for the two schools.”
To reach Randy Covitz, call 816-234-4796 or send e-mail to rcovitz@kcstar.com (rcovitz@kcstar.com)
Posted on Wed, Nov. 24, 2010 10:15 PM
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/24/2470266/carl-petersons-fingerprints-all.html#ixzz16MJxmQoD